Scarlett confirms end of career

Updated September 13, 2012 15:38:44

Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett has confirmed his retirement.

The triple-premiership player told coaching staff midway through the year that 2012 would be his final season.

Scarlett played 284 matches over 15 seasons with the Cats and his final appearance came in Geelong's 16-point loss to Fremantle in last Saturday's elimination final.

"I have decided that the 2012 season will be my last with Geelong and as an AFL player," Scarlett said.

"I have enjoyed a wonderful time with the club and am proud to have shared this with so many great team mates.

"Obviously the premierships stand out as highlights, but they would not have been possible unless we all worked together along the way. I am confident that this will continue in the future with all of the young players that have joined the club in recent years.

"I have also been lucky to have had many great coaches over the past 15 years. They have all made an impact on me as a player.

"I would like to give particular thanks to Chris Scott, Mark Thompson and Brendan McCartney for what they have done for me and the club during their time here. They were the most influential coaches in my career and I will always be grateful for that."

Rated as one of the game's best full-backs, Scarlett was a six-time All-Australian, receiving the honour in each year the Cats won the flag in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, geelong-3220

First posted September 13, 2012 15:29:17

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Sun sets on Fraser's career

Updated August 30, 2012 09:05:18

Gold Coast ruckman Josh Fraser has announced his retirement.

The 30-year-old joined the Suns in their maiden AFL campaign last year, having played 11 seasons with Collingwood after making his senior debut in 2000.

He played in two grand finals (2002, 2003) with the Magpies and finishes his career with 218 senior matches to his name.

He was also the overall number one pick in the 1999 national draft.

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, carrara-4211

First posted August 29, 2012 20:42:37

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Cassisi to complete career with Port

Updated March 26, 2012 11:39:16

Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi says he will finish his AFL career as a one-club player after signing a contract extension.

Cassisi, 29, has played 184 matches since debuting for Port Adelaide in 2002 and is going into his fourth season as captain.

While Port Adelaide as a rule declines to reveal the length of contract extensions, coach Matthew Primus indicated it was for several more seasons.

"I'm delighted that Dom has re-signed and I know he's going to continue to play a very important part in the club's journey over the next few years, both through his leadership and his consistency on-field," Primus said.

Cassisi said it was an "incredible'' feeling to be a one-club player for the Power.

"I love captaining this football club and I'm just so excited as to where our young group has come from and to where it's heading,'' he said.

"We think we've laid a pretty good platform for this season but we're also aware that we need to make the most of our hard work by maintaining our competitiveness across the whole year, starting with a very tough challenge against St Kilda in round one."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, port-adelaide-5015

First posted March 26, 2012 11:32:48

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Mooney's career all but over

Updated September 29, 2011 17:40:55

Three-time premiership player Cameron Mooney is resigned to missing Saturday's AFL grand final regardless of whether injured Geelong team-mate Steve Johnson plays.

The Cats selected the 22 that beat West Coast in the preliminary final last Saturday, but Mooney has not played a part since mid-August after announcing his retirement.

Collingwood on the other hand overlooked 59-game midfielder Dayne Beams despite strong form against the Cats in the past, bringing in 19-year-old Alex Fasolo as a replacement.

Beams only had two possessions in Friday night's three-point preliminary final win over Hawthorn and the Magpies say he has a groin injury.

Collingwood ruckman Darren Jolly and key defender Ben Reid were nursing upper-leg injuries after the Hawthorn win, while Geelong forward Johnson hurt his knee last Saturday during the preliminary final win over West Coast.

But all three were named in their respective sides on Thursday.

Mooney, 32, who will retire at the end of the season, has been unable to break back into the Cats' best 22 since mid-August.

And the veteran - part of Geelong's 2007 and 2009 wins and victorious in another grand final with North Melbourne - has conceded the prospect of Johnson being a late withdrawal with a knee injury is unlikely to win him a reprieve for Saturday's clash with Collingwood.

He believes his only chance of playing one last match before retirement is for one of Geelong's taller players to be forced out, rather than the loss of livewire Johnson.

"Probably no," Mooney said when asked if he thought he would play.

"Unless one of the big guys falls over at training tomorrow or in the warm-up on Saturday, I'm probably not going to play.

"It's been a bit of a tough week and it's actually been a tough month to watch the boys play in the finals knowing that I was such a big part of it over the past few years.

"Not being involved has been really tough - [it's] probably been the hardest part of my career.

"But in saying that, what it's shown is that Scotty (coach Chris Scott) is backing in the future and the youth of the football club.

"To their credit they're all playing very good football.

"They're keeping the old guy out at the moment."

ABC/AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, geelong-3220, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted September 29, 2011 15:42:51

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